Customer Reviews

Dream All Day: The Best Of The Posies

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The 90s produced some great bands and some great records, much of it bursting forth from the "grunge" scene of Seattle, Washington. But while mosh pits and flannel shirts were the rule of the day, I personally pined for the magnificent power pop of the previous three decades. Like the cavalry came Seattle's Posies, keepers of the flame and heirs apparent to Big Star's pop kingdom. Just as Big Star begat such early 80s wunderkinds as Let's Active, R.E.M. and the Replacements, so did their legacy live on in the spirit of The Posies, not only the freshest and most infectious of Seattle's 90s alumni, but a godsend for those of us who were hoping that Alex Chilton would stop noodling around with his endless string of infuriating covers albums and save the day. This collection is terrific. I own The Posies' entire recorded output (at least all that has been released to the public), and once made myself a "best of" tape compiled of those songs. Every single song that I personally picked for that tape is on this CD. How many times has a "Greatest Hits" album done that for you?

. . . He Put My Baby in the Garbage Can.

The Posies were one of the 90s' great overlooked bands. Though they had bags of potential hits and plenty of exposure via tribute comps and soundtracks, they only had one radio song, 93's "I Can Dream All Day," which gives this collection its title. The band was heavily influenced by Big Star, but more by that band's overlooked sonic architect, Chris Bell, than Bell's quirkier, more celebrated collaborator, Alex Chilton, and the Posies' hommage to Bell, a cover of his great lost masterpiece, "I Am the Cosmos," is included here. The Posies didn't merely imitate, though, putting a contemporary spin on the Big Star formula of great hooks and harmonies by rocking harder and playing up the poor, poor pitiful me white boy shtick that was even more suited for contemporary audiences than back when Big Star first did it, but maybe because the Posies' angst came across as more genuine than prefab hucksters like Bush, who affected disaffection so that people might mistake them as credible (sadly, many did), listeners stayed away by the stadium-full, just like with Big Star, though this was probably one characteristic of their heroes that the Posies did not wish to emulate. The production already sounds dated on most 90s albums and this collection is really no exception, but the Posies packed a genuine emotional wallop, rendering this clutch of classics near-timeless. This is a shockingly well-assembled retrospective with no weak spots, making it more valuable than the individual albums; virtually all of their key tracks are here -- "Suddenly Mary," "Solar Sister," "Flavor of the Month," "Please Return It" (though I could've done with the inclusion of "Daily Mutilation," personally, but I won't quibble) -- along with some great unexpected album tracks like "Coming Right Along" and the epic "Flood of Sunshine."

Evidently, I slept throught the '90s, because I don't remember hearing anything by the Posies until last week in the music store when they put this collection in the CD player. By the fourth track I'd bought a copy and was out the door, rushing to get the disc into my player (where it resides to this day).

The guy at the music store called The Posies "the '90s version of Big Star." Big Star's influence is obvious, as is that of The Hollies (songs by both bands are covered here). The Posies' music isn't incredibly original - this kind of thing has been done before - but it is undoubtedly some of the best, most addictive pop/rock I've heard in a long time. Catchy songs, good lyrics, and more hooks than a bait and tackle shop - if this all sounds good to you, buy the CD. You won't regret it. But you probably knew that already.

I have been following the Posies for years, I can honestly say that pound for pound Jon Auer, and Ken Stringfellow write some of the best edgy/pop for the money. Their lyrics and music combined are as addicting as anything I can think of. If you love the harmonies of the Beatles mixed with the sound of the Hollies, than you will love the Posies and this CD for that matter!

I got this album from the clearance bin, never having heard any of the songs on it and not knowing what to expect. I knew they were an indie group from around Seattle so I thought maybe it would be something like Nirvana, but not as good. I was pleasently surprised with the album. The songs are catchy pop songs that you can sing along too, but it still has a raw sort of an edge to it. The lyrics are witty and at times insightful. Since I haven't heard the albums I can't comment on whether these are the best tracks to put on the "best of." However, I can say that most of the tracks here are good, my favorites being "My Big Mouth," "Any Other Way," "Suddenly Mary," "King Midas In Reverse," "Going, Going, Gone," and "Ontario."

Another surprise from a band that I was not familiar with and purchased 2 CD's anyway. They are kind of along the lines of BNL and They Might be Giants (sort of similar more pop though). If you like that kind of music you may give these guys a try. Not my super favorites but I listen to this (these) CD's regularly.